Gillingham-Dagenham: No Festive Cheer for Gillingham

There wasn't to be any festive cheer for Gillingham on Boxing Day, as the Gills succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Dagenham and Redbridge at Victoria Road.

After the home draw with Brentford, manager Mark Stimson made three changes to his starting lineup for the trip up to London. Alan Julian replaced Simon Royce in goal, Nicky Southall slotted in at right-back in place of suspended captain Barry Fuller, and Adam Miller came into the set-up to partner Simeon Jackson up-front.

There was over 1,000 Gillingham fans occupying the away areas at Victoria Road, and they made the hour-long trip over to Dagenham to see their side get off to the worst possible start.

Direct from the kick-off, a long clearance up-field found Dagenham midfielder Paul Benson, who played the ball in for fellow midfielder Ben Strevens to neatly finish beyond the diving Alan Julian.  

Just one minute gone, and the Gills already found themselves a goal behind.

However, as always, Gillingham bounced back and looked the stronger for large parts of the first half.

They had several chances to get an equaliser, and even had the ball in the back of the net when Adam Miller headed Nicky Southall's free-kick over the on-rushing Dagenham keeper Tony Roberts.

Celebrations were short-lived however, as the assistant referee was quick to rule Miller as offside.

In the second half, it was the home side who started the brighter, and within just five minutes of the re-start, their efforts paid off. Paul Benson hit an unstoppable shot that cannoned in off the far post, doubling the Daggers' lead.

Gillingham created little more in the remainder of the game, and Dagenham could've even had a third, as the highly active Paul Benson nodded the ball past keeper Alan Julian but was ruled for offside.

It was a defeat the Gills most probably deserved, and it's one that sees them slip down three places to eleventh in the Coca Cola League Two table.

And to make things worse for Gillingham, their next game is at home to League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers, who are currently seven points clear at the top of the table.